8 Palestinians Killed in Shooting Near Gaza Aid Sites, Raising Concerns Over Humanitarian Crisis
June 16, 2025 – At least eight Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded on Sunday, June 15, in a shooting near two Israeli- and U.S.-backed aid distribution sites in Rafah, southern Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry and witnesses cited by NPR. The incident, occurring around dawn, involved Israeli forces allegedly firing on crowds heading to sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial initiative criticized by the UN for violating humanitarian principles. Witnesses, including Ahmed al-Masri, described the areas as chaotic, calling the sites a “trap” as desperate Palestinians sought food amid widespread hunger.
The GHF, launched on May 27, 2025, aims to bypass UN aid systems, which Israel accuses of allowing Hamas to divert supplies—a claim the UN denies. Since its inception, over 100 Palestinians have been killed near these sites, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting 65 deaths in the past 24 hours alone, including the eight in Rafah. The Israeli military denied firing directly at civilians, stating troops used warning shots toward “suspects” deviating from designated routes, per an IDF statement. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis received eight bodies, with witnesses like Adham Dahman reporting tank fire at the Al-Alam roundabout, roughly one kilometer from the site.
The UN and aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders, have condemned the GHF system as inadequate, accusing Israel of militarizing aid distribution. Posts on X, such as from @falasteen47, label the sites “death traps,” amplifying calls for an independent investigation. The violence underscores Gaza’s dire humanitarian crisis, with over 55,300 deaths reported since Israel’s campaign began, per Gaza’s Health Ministry.
